Montgomery Baseball & Softball League (NJ)

Manager/Coach Requirements 

When it comes to baseball and softball, Managers and Coaches are the ones who spend the most time interacting with players.  Because of that, more than anyone else in our program, our MBL Managers and Coaches are the ones who can make a child’s experience in our programs fun and memorable.  There is nothing that can have more of a positive impact on our players than improving the quality and knowledge of our Managers and Coaches. 
 

With that in mind, it is imperative that all MBL Managers and Coaches be properly trained to ensure they are not only knowledgeable of skills, techniques, and safety (of the players and themselves), but also to ensure that they are focused more on the players’ baseball experience and less on winning games.  Therefore, all those seeking to serve as Managers or Coaches in MBL’s Rec and Travel baseball and softball programs MUST complete all of the training listed below prior to the beginning of the baseball season in order for them to be authorized to serve as Manager or Coach.

Coaches Contract:

• Mandatory for Managers and Coaches
• Must be completed annually before first practice or game, as required by MBL
• Action:  Read and sign the Coaches Contract (available under the "Documents" link) and return to your League Director.  
   

Background Check & Abuse Prevention Screening

• Mandatory for Managers, Coaches, Scorekeepers, and any adult in the dugout*
  • * THIS POLICY WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED DURING THE SEASON
• Established in 2019:  Must be completed once every 2 years before the first practice or game, as required by Babe Ruth, Inc.
• Takes less than 5 minutes to complete; results typically returned within 5 business days.
• Cost:  $25.50
• Provider SportsEngine
• Click HERE for more information and FAQs
• Click HERE for instructions on initiating and completing the background screen.
  
• Once your background screen is complete you will receive an email, usually within 5 days of completion, containing a URL to complete a required Abuse Prevention Training. The Abuse Prevention Training consists of nine videos followed by a short quiz.
  
  

Babe Ruth / Cal Ripken Coach Certification 

• Mandatory for all Team Managers and Coaches, as required by Babe Ruth, Inc.
• Only needs to be completed once; good for your entire coaching career in the MBL
• Duration:  2-3 hours (online training)
• Cost:  $19.95
• Click HERE for more information (select "Coaching Youth Baseball the Babe Ruth League Way" and "Coaching Youth Softball the Babe Ruth League Way")
  
  

Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. Program

• Mandatory for all Team Managers and Coaches, as required by Montgomery Township
• Only needs to be completed once; good for your entire coaching career in the MBL
• The objectives of the program are to protect coaches from civil lawsuits, to help coaches minimize the risk of injury to young athletes, and to provide fundamental coaching concepts
• Duration:  About 3 hours (classroom training)
• Cost:  FREE if taken within Montgomery Township; $35.00 if taken elsewhere
• Click HERE for more information
  
• NOTE:  This course is offered through Montgomery Twp Rec Dept, FREE residents
• Date:  Thursday March 18, 2021 6:30-9:00pm (sign in starts at 6:00pm)
  Location:  Zoom (link will be emailed to registrants) 
• To Register: Log in or Sign Up for Community Pass: https://tinyurl.com/77p4a9w7
  OR  register by phone by calling the Recreation Dept. at 609-466-3023
  
  



On-Field Safety & Behavior Awareness

All Team Managers and Coaches must review the "Safety" link on this web site to:

• Review the MBL Accident Reporting policy
  
• Familiarize themselves with the location of AED devices at the McKnight Baseball Complex
• View the AED training video (8 minutes)
• View the CPR hands-only training video (2 minutes)
• Review the MBL Code of Conduct & Reporting policy

and acknowledge completion of same to their League Director, as required by MBL.

Concussions in Youth Sports Awareness Training

• Suggested for all Team Managers and Coaches, for awareness of Montgomery Township School policy
  
• Only needs to be completed once; good for your entire coaching career in the MBL
• Duration:  Less than 30 minutes (online training)
• Cost:  Free
• Click HERE to take the course
  
• Print this Clipboard Sheet - which outlines signs and symptoms of a concussion - and keep it with you during practices and games. 
  

Babe Ruth / Cal Ripken / MBL Rules

• All Managers and Coaches are encouraged to familiarize themselves with Babe Ruth / Cal Ripken rules.
• MBL will give each team a copy of the latest paper BRL Baseball Rule Book each season (free)
• BRL Baseball Rules eBook is also available for $15.00
• Team Managers and Coaches should also familiarize themselves with the MBL League-Wide Rules of Play, available on the "Documents" link
   

Scorekeeper Training

All Scorekeepers are encouraged to review any one of the numerous baseball scorekeeping tutorials available to better understand how best to keep a book, properly record a variety of different play scenarios, and calculate basic baseball statistics.  Some suggested sources/references include:

• • Keeping Score (a high-level overview/introduction of the very basics of scoring a game)
  • How to Score a Baseball Game (a more detailed review with examples of actual game situations)

If you prefer Video Training, check out:

• • Keeping a Scorebook - Part 1 (11:33)
  • Keeping a Scorebook - Part 2 (12:57)

Check the back of your scorebook to see if it includes examples to help you score basic and less-common game situations.  If not, those new to scorekeeping may want to print the following reference and keep it with your scorebook as reference:

• • Scoring Samples 

NOTE:  Official Scorekeepers for Travel Teams must acknowledge to their team's Manager that they have read MLB Official Rule 10.00 - The Official Scorer to ensure we have valid and consistent record keeping, as required by Babe Ruth Baseball, Inc. and USABL.